Gala Apples

The variety was developed in New Zealand in the mid 20th century and was selected for its mild, sweet flavor, crisp flesh, and versatile nature. Gala apples were developed in 1934 by James Hutton Kidd, also known as J.H. Kidd, an apple breeder based in New Zealand. Kidd was inspired by the attractive coloring of new American apple varieties and the flavors of British varieties. Combining American with British apples, Kidd’s first major success was developing the kidd’s orange red apples, which later became a parent variety for Gala apples.

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Gala apples were commercially planted in Europe and the United States in the 1980s, and over time, the apples became one of the most commercially grown varieties worldwide. Today Gala apples can be grown in both warmer apple regions and temperate climates and are heavily produced in New Zealand, the United States, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, China, England, and Poland.

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Gala apples have a mild, fruity, and floral flavor and a crisp, fine-grained texture suited as an all-purpose variety for fresh and cooked preparations. The apple’s snap-like texture provides a source of crunch when layering onto sandwiches, paninis, and burgers.